Am i going to be santioned tomorror for not haing money to pay for childcare

Izzybea

Hi, basically I was called by an employee of A4e on 30/6/ called Shaheed, advising me that I had to come to the office the next day at 14.30 as he had a cleaning job for me (great I thought, better than nothing). I have never seen or spoken to this man before so I explained to him that I don’t have any savings to pay the £272 upfront fee for childcare place to be able to start work straight away - he told me if I didn’t come I would be sanctioned for refusal of employment - I asked why I wasn’t given any notice he explained my a4e advisor was supposed to contact me two weeks prior so I had time to prepare, I told him it would have to be later or earlier as that’s when I have to leave to collect my son from school, he said this was fine as it was a group discussion with the employer about the role and expectations and that we were able to discuss childcare issues at the meeting. Next day went to office receptionist was shocked as I arrived at 15.45 and she explained to me that I was here for a job int. not a group discussion and were all supposed to be avail to work immediately - sat a waited until 17.00 explained that I have to take my son home for dinner. She went off (meanwhile office is closing as its home time for A4E staff) then a guy who I’ve never meet came over to where me and five other women were sitting addressed me by name, I said hello and stated to him that I was concerned as the recep. informed me that’s it’s a job int. and I’m not prepared and I don’t have childcare in place to start work next day and I have my son with me, he said don’t worry go to in with the employer as it’s now a group int. incl. my son.
After group int. we were told by the same man to sign an A4e declaration that was not filled in - he claimed this was to prove that we had attended the int.
In the int I apologised and explained to the employer that I can only work from 10-2pm until I have saved enough to pay for f/t c/care, she said this would be difficult as she runs mon-fri 9-6 and the clients dictate when we work within those hrs. She said she had contracts close to my home with the hrs. to suit me but the other girls in the int. were c/care ready so they stated on the Wed. she said I could come on the Thurs to shadow the other staff and hopefully the Wed girls may quit and I could take their roles (seemed a good idea) no need for c/care. On the Wed Eve I called the employer to confirm the meeting place for the morning she explained to me that she wanted me to come to see their other contracts in E. London said have no money she explained that A4E were to give me a travel allowance - Thurs 3/7/ called employer explained that I have to contact A4E re travel before meeting her, called a4e, explained no money for travel and c/care still call passed to Shaheed who advised me to come and collect £30 for travel. Went to the office were I was sent to my normal A4e advisor explained the sit. He just advised me again if I didn’t attend I will be sanctioned. I went to the employer got to meet place at 12.45, at 14.15 recvd a call from employer, reminding to leave to collect my son at 14.30 , and to meet her same place as soon as I drop son to school, got there at 9.30 when she arrived she told me that all the local contacts had been taken and that she only had E. London jobs and I was to shadow until 14.00 then we all leave to E. London for 3pm explained no childcare, she then informed me that Shaheed had advised her that childcare wasn’t an issue.
3/7 Thursday signing day also same day to start shadowing at new job- JCP lady signed me on
4/7 Sent home from employer as I have no childcare
7/7 letter recvd from a4e come to your monthly review on 28/7
17/7 signed on no problems
28/7 went to review to see advisor Abul but he was off saw another advisor extremely helpful explained/showed me on his computer, that my advisor has been lying to me he doesn’t have 4k clients of his own and he has plenty of time to find clients work placements he’s just lazy and that I can do voluntary work to gain employment ref. but they prefer you to do it via them, asked if he could be my advisor he said I have to make formal complaint to his manger first
31/7 I went to sign on told be JCP advisor they have closed my claim and I have to do Rapid Reclaim (not rapid).
spoke with the helpful advisor who to showed me on his screen that Abul has maliciously on the 3/7 reported that I have a new 16hr week job and no longer req. realising he’s cocked up he has tried to cover up be sending review letter thinking that it would cancel the action to stop JSA (asked for a printout but he said it prints his details on it and he didn’t want to be sacked (far enough) but he said I have proof of his error by way of the review letter as once the advisor reports you’re working 16hrs you no longer have monthly reviews. - Spoke with DWP and the lady advised that once a4e sent notice to cancel JSA they can’t backtrack.
What’s going to happen at the appt tomorrow morning, am I going to be sanctioned for not having childcare, and how long for, will I get b/dated money as tomorrow should have been my payday, how long before I rev any money if I’m not sanctioned.
On the upside I called the nice a4e advisor just now and he gave me a list of people to write complaints to
A4e, I.D.S, my local MP, JCP C.Exec., Head of WRK programmes he said to send the same letter to all of the above regardless of what happens at the rapid int.
He stated that the only time a4e action complaints is when MPs are involved.
Also and my advisor Abul is no longer available (I used a fake name)


Sorry it’s so long

Viberduo

Not much advice as that wall of text its hard to understand, but you mention you signed a blank form, NEVER do this as they can write whatever they want on the document saying you signed it to agree to it

I am not 100% on the law but sure you can reject a job for a good enough reason, however knowing how awful the JC is what a normal person would say was a good reason they would say was not acceptable.

When I had problems with a stolen giro before, I got nowhere for weeks till I contacted local MP and the very next day I had problem sorted and a new giro and apologies from the secretary of JC for the whole area of the country, another time when my benefit was stopped wrongfully as they claimed my circumstances had changed and I was due a months money I had to complain to same MP and again problem sorted instantly.

Izzybea

Thanks Viberduo
I guess tha main Q. is will I be sanctioned when I attend the rapid reclaim int. tomorrow for not being able to keep the job because of lack of money to pay for childcare, and not being able to finish work at 6pm.
Also I should say I have a son with Autisum + ADHD so the c/care provider needs to be qualified so I cant choose just anybody.

iammumtoone

Sorry I didn't read it all as its hard to read. I did notice at the end that you are going to write letters of complaints this is a good idea but please get someone you trust to proof read them for you and help with paragraphs.

Couple of questions. How old is your son and are you a single parent?

Viberduo

Its hard to say, depends on how nasty or ignorant the person is or if they just go by the book and look at the history and sanction you as thats what the rules say then you have to appeal it.

From what you say you have good reason even if your advisors were friendly and correct, the problem is getting the JC to see sense as they often just look at a claim and do not think of the reasons behind things, I had my claim stopped once when they forgot to send out a new claim appointment document despite me ringing for a MONTH! Saying it was my fault for not checking every day despite me writing I contacted about 4 out of 5 days per week and when I eventually found out I "missed" a sign on appointment I already phoned 3 or 4 times AFTER the alleged sign on I missed and was told my appoinment had not been made yet!

They are a law onto themselves.

Izzybea

iammumtoone wrote: »

Sorry I didn't read it all as its hard to read. I did notice at the end that you are going to write letters of complaints this is a good idea but please get someone you trust to proof read them for you and help with paragraphs.

Couple of questions. How old is your son and are you a single parent?

Sorry I was trying to write just the main info yes im a single parent my son is six with ASD + ADHD but I dont not claim DLA or carers
I cant go to Lewisham council for Hardship finacial help as I do not meet there criteria, and now my JSA claim has ended the budgeting loan I sent off will be rejected and I will have to wait 26weeks to apply

shegirl

Izzybea wrote: »

Thanks Viberduo
I guess tha main Q. is will I be sanctioned when I attend the rapid reclaim int. tomorrow for not being able to keep the job because of lack of money to pay for childcare, and not being able to finish work at 6pm.
Also I should say I have a son with Autisum + ADHD so the c/care provider needs to be qualified so I cant choose just anybody.

First thing - does your son receive DLA at middle rate care or more?


Second thing - I would not be so sure that the advisor sent the notification of a new job maliciously. It was only a few days before your review letter came through, that is easily done. And you had started the job/made plans/etc etc so he wasn't really lying was he?

Viberduo

My advice is after you come back tomorrow if you are sanctioned contact the MP asap and get them to help also if you get nowhere after a few weeks maybe get the press involved though some people say that makes things worse.

Izzybea

Viberduo wrote: »

Its hard to say, depends on how nasty or ignorant the person is or if they just go by the book and look at the history and sanction you as thats what the rules say then you have to appeal it.

From what you say you have good reason even if your advisors were friendly and correct, the problem is getting the JC to see sense as they often just look at a claim and do not think of the reasons behind things, I had my claim stopped once when they forgot to send out a new claim appointment document despite me ringing for a MONTH! Saying it was my fault for not checking every day despite me writing I contacted about 4 out of 5 days per week and when I eventually found out I "missed" a sign on appointment I already phoned 3 or 4 times AFTER the alleged sign on I missed and was told my appoinment had not been made yet!

They are a law onto themselves.

Just read the DM handbook on sanctions which suggest if sanctioned it would be overturend on appeal because of lack of funds for childcare, and the fact that the child required special c/care as he has behavioural problems - not looking good, I have never been sanctioned before.

Izzybea

shegirl wrote: »

First thing - does your son receive DLA at middle rate care or more?


Second thing - I would not be so sure that the advisor sent the notification of a new job maliciously. It was only a few days before your review letter came through, that is easily done. And you had started the job/made plans/etc etc so he wasn't really lying was he?[/QUOT
But I had spoken to my a4e advisor after leaving wrk and he still sent the req to DWP nowing that I wasnt working, and it would have been impossible for my to have worked 16hrs on the first day as I got there 12.45 and left at 2.30pm and spoke to him the next morning at 10am when the employer sent me home

iammumtoone

As a single parent with a young child you have the right to be given 7 days notice (if needed) to attend an interview and 28 days to start a job. The extra time is given to allow you to be able to arrange childcare.

You also have the right to restrict your hours to working school hours but not term times only (this does not include travel time to and from work). Therefore you have the right to work from 9-3 ish depending on your sons school times.

With the above in mind you should not be sanctioned. I didn't read anywhere that you actually accepted the job? If you didn't formally accept it then if the hours were more than school hours (think I read they were) you do not have to accept it.

You should not be sanctioned as you were not given enough time to arrange childcare to start working and the job hours were outside what you have to work.

What hours are stated on your job agreement? If they are not school hours get them changed, this does not mean you cannot still look for work outside these hours (I am a single mum and now work full time) but it help to protect you from situations like this.